Glass feeder



June 18, 193.5., R. A. cH|LcoTE y 005,494

GLASS FEEDER Filed Jan. 17, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l #Troia/wey June 1 8, 193s.l R, A CWMQTEl i 2,005,494

GLASS FEEDE R Filed Jan.ll'7, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 7a2/view June' 18, 1935.

R. A. cHlLcoT E.'

GLASS FEEDER Filed Jan. 17, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 18, `1932".

R. A. ca-nLczcrl-E GLASS FEEDER Filed Jan. 17, 193s 4v Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 18, 1.935

' UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE GLASS FEEDER Ray A. Chilcote, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner of one-half to McLaughlin Glass Co., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application January 17, 1933, Serial No. 652,171

9 Claims. (Cl. 49-55) This invention relates to a glass feeder for time, and the formation of the narrow neck which feeding molten glass into the molds of a moldcan be easily severed by the shears. ing machine. Heretofore it has been customary A further object is to provide an apparatus for to feed momen glass from the' so called tank rotating the cup during its reciprocation- It through a forehearth and on discharging the sometimes occurs that when the mold charge` 5 glass from the forehearth to divide it into mold iS formed there is a tendency foi' lBhe glass to charges which are consecutively dropped into chill on one side. This is quite noticeable in molds positioned therebeneath by a molding Ina-` Some instanCes by the mold Charge bending due chine. In dividing the g1agsint0m01d Charges to the glass having become chilled on that side 10 the apparatus causing the glass to be divided is about Which the bend takes Dlaee. By having 10 usually neared in the fcrehearth itseu or at seme the cup rotate, the heat is evenly distributed s0 location above the outlet from the forehearth. that When the mold Charge is formed Che glass Consequently the apparatus producing the diviis of substantially uniform viscosity throughout sion of the glass into the mold charges is suband When deposited in the mold il? may freely be ject to the heat .and corrosive elect of the molten foioeol into all portions. ihefeo 15 glass. Devices have been developed for alter- With the OTeEOing and Other Objects in View, nately imposing an air pressure en e, portion of which will be made manifest in the following dethe glass to be discharged or extruded in the tailed description, and specifically pointed out in form of a mold charge and subsequently producthe appended Claims, reference is had 130 the ing a vacuum. In such devices the apparatueis accompanying drawings for an illustrative em- 20 likewise located above the outlet .from the forebodimeni of the invention Whelein hearth or within the forehearth itself. Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section illustrating An object 0f the present invention is to prothe improved glass feeder, the cup being shown vide a construction for separating the glass as @i the beginning of its CloWnWaid strokeu is discharged from thev forehearth into meld Fie- 2 is a View Similar to Figure 1 illustrating 25 charges, which construction is located beneath the Cup at the bottom of its doWPWaICl sloke. the forehearth and beneath the outlet therefrom. Fig 3 is a Partial VieW in Vertieal SeetOn illus- With this arrangement the apparatus is Sub trating a modified form of `outlet which may be jected to less'heat and can be easily and coniised on the forehealthveniently operated and adjusted to produce mold Fig- 4 iS a VieW Sinlilai` to Figure 1 illustrating 30 charges of different sizes, 1 a modified form of construction wherein the cup The improved apparatus also develops alteris caused to rotate during its reciprocation. mately a pressure inv the glass tu extrude it and -Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially a partial vacuum Without resorting to any air U-Don the line 5--5 upon Figure 4- i' chambers submerged in the glass itself. In this Fig- 6 iS e horizontal Seotion i"aken Substantially 35 way the glass can be extruded forming a mold upon the line 6* 6 upon Figure 4 charge of predetermined Size and then on de- Fig. '7 is a partialview in vertical section illusveloping the partial vacuum Within the molten trating a modified form of outlet from the foreglass a, Smau neck will be formed at the top of hearth used in conjunction with the rotating cup 40, the mold charge which can be easily severed by type, 0f Construction- 40 V the conventional shears. The severed neck also Refrring v to the accompanying drawings tends to be drawn'back toward the source of sup- Whrem Similar reference characiers designate ply until the succeeding pressure is developed by Similar pars throughout and particularly to Fig" the apparatus so that the severed neck will be Preis 1.and the forehearth lea'lmg from the tank "artially returned to a locality of sufficiently high lsnmiltcaig galsalglhe refernefcharctr 4a an ou e orme y liiiure as ilo ,keep the .Severed peck from ,a ntipple1 H'hich islmaie of sliltablfe refratrly ma eria i. is nipp e as, in is orm o e .Morespecicaiiy an Qbiect of the mvfinttoii is invention, a relatively small central outlet or orito prOVlde a glass feedlng apparatus oonsistlna nce I2 surrounded by comparatively large at sur- 50 0f a forehearih haylng an outlet and an apeifaces i3 the function of which will be hereinafter tured cup into wh1ch the outlet extend s, wth described. The forehearth l0 receives the molten provision made for reciprocating the apertured glass I5 which is maintained in the forehearth at cup in synchronism with the mold machine causabout the level shown. The rate of feed of molten ing a mold charge to be formed at the proper glass into the nipple may be regulated by menus 55 of a suitable valve or feed control I6, which may be mounted on a lever I1 on top of the forehearth; and adjustment being made by screwing nut I8 up or down on stud I9. Any other suitable mechanism for regulating the flow into nipple II may be employed. Below the nipple I I there is mounted a suitable cup 20 consisting of an outer cup .like shell 2| within which there is a layer of heat insulating material 22 and within this there is a layer of refractory material 23. This cup has an apertured bottom 24, preferably arranged in vertical alignment with outlet or orce I2. The cup is carried by an arm 25 which is on a sleeve 26 surrounding a tubular column 21 which may be suitably mounted. Within this column there is a piston rod 28 which isvconnected to a piston 29 inside of an air cylinder 30. Pipes 3i and 32 lead to the cylinder at apposite sides of the piston and provide for admission and exhaust of air pressure to reciprocate the piston in the cylinder. The piston rod carries a diametrical pin 33 operating in a slot 34 in the column 21. 'Ihe pin extends through sleeve 26 which may slide up and down on the outside of column 21.

The conventional shears, the blades of which are indicated at 35 and 36, are located beneath the bottom of-thek cup and disposed a short distance below the bottom of the cup when `the cup is at the bottom of its downward stroke. The particular mechanism for operating the shears may be conventional and, as the construction of the shear operating mechanism forms no part of the present invention, this mechanism is not disclosed.

There is preferably a sufficient clearance between the inside walls of the cup and the exterior of nipple II to comply with conventional glass practice. Suitable burners 31 may be arranged adjacent the sides of nipple II to play 'name on the nipple and keep the glass flowing therethrough adequately warm.

The operation and advantages of this form of construction are as follows. vThe molten glass I5, which is highly viscous, flows slowly down through nipple II and into the cup 20. During the downward stroke of piston 29 and of the cup. a. partial vacuum is formed in the cup which is effective to draw molten glass from the nipple I l down into the cup. It is also effective to a limited extent to cause the upper portion, indicated at 38, of the neck to be drawn back into the cup so that this partially extruded amount of glass will be returned to the volume of molten glass in the cup and kept hot until the succeeding mold charge is formed. The partial vacuum produced is not so effective on the exposed surfaces ofthe glass between nipple I I and the interior of the cup inasmuch as these surfaces of the glassare the coolest portions in the cup and resist flowing to a considerable extent. On the upstroke of the cup, that portion of the glass which has been drawn into the cup is extruded through outlet or aperture 24. The wide surfaces I3 cause the nipple to act somewhat as a ram or plunger assisting in this extruding action. When the glass is extruded it forms an elongated body 39 forming a mold charge. In Figure 1 the dotted lines immediately above lthe cup indicate the top of the upward stroke and the cup in this figure is shown as having just been started on its downward stroke. When it starts on its downward stroke, a partial vacuum starts to be reformed in the cup with the result that portion 38 tends to return to the cup. This results in the forming of a relatively small neck 66. which is formed just as the cup starts on its downward movement. The

shear blades 35 and 36, which are operated in synchronism with the apparatus, move together and sever the mold charge 39 from the body of molten glass within the cup just as the neck is formed. The mold charge can then drop into the mold which has been positioned beneath the cup by the molding machine and the severed portion 38 partially returns to the cup during the remainder of the down-stroke while an additional charge or gather is drawn from nipple I I into the cup. It Will be appreciated by those familiar with the art that the shear blades 35 and 36 and the piston 29 can be driven to operate in synchronism with the mold machine by any suitable valve mechanism for controlling the supply of air delivered to the cylinder through pipes 3l and 32 and to the operating mechanism for the shear blades.

In the modification shown in Figure 3 a different type of nipple indicated at IIa is employed. In all other respects the apparatus is the same. In this form of construction the nipple IIa instead of having a central outlet or orice, has a lateralA outlet or orifice indicated at |211. In this type of construction the bottom of 25 the nipple I Ia presents a large fiat surface I3* operating as a plunger or ram during the upward stroke of the cup to extrude or force the glass out of the cup to form 4the mold charge. This form of nipple is sometimes found desirable where a large mold charge is to be formed.

When it is desired to form mold charges of slightly different size, suitable adjustmentisprovided, this being indicated by top and bottom set screws 4I and 42 on the cylinder. These may be adjusted and serve as stops hunting the stroke of the piston and thus limiting the stroke of the cup. It will be appreciated that when a smaller stroke of cup is obtained that the quantity drawn into the cup from the nipple and extruded during any cycle of operation will be made smaller.

In this way a very line adjustment is possible .umn 51 and which is reciprocated by the -diametrical pin 58 carried by piston rod 59 on piston 60 which is in the cylinder 6I. The pipes leading to, and from the cylinder are indicated at 62 and 63. 'I'he cup 54, which is rotatably mounted on arm 55, carries an annular gear 64 .which is in mesh with a spur gear 65 driven by a variable speed motor 66 which is mounted on arm 55. In this form .of connstruction, as before, a downward stroke of the cup draws a supply of glass from nipple 5I into the cup and draws up the severed portion of the neck. At the start of the downstroke the narrow neck 61 is formed and immediately sheared off by j shear blades 68 and 69 and during the remainder acompa tendency for the mold charge to deform due to the glass having been chilled on one side. The speed of rotation of the cup is not great and a speed reduction gear box 'li may be interposed between the motor 66 and spur gear 65.

In the modification shown in Figure 7 the construction of the cup, generally designated at ta, is the same as that disclosed on Figure 4. The nipple, however, indicated at 5in is similar in construction to nipple lia, having the lateral outlet and presenting the large bottom surface which will act as a plunger or ram to extrude the glass' through the bottomV of the cup in forming the mold charge.

From the above described constructions it will y be appreciated that in the improved glass feeder all of the apparatus which divides the glass into mold charges is located outside of the forehearth and beneath the outlet nipple therefrom. The apparatus in this arrangement is not subject to the high heat nor corrosive eiect of the molten glass. There is no occasion to use air pressures or partial `vacuums in submerged chambers submerged in the glass as in prior constructions. By the apparatus a pressure is produced in the glass itself and a partial vacuum is produced therein mechanically causing the glass to be momentarily extruded to form the mold charge and causing a narrow 'neck to be produced at the top of the mold charge which can be severed and the small nipple left by severing the neck is caused to temporarily return or to be drawn back up into the molten supply or gather in the cup to be kept hot until there is a succeeding extrusion and formation of mold charg. The apparatus also, as disclosed in Figures 4 and '7, provides for continuously rotating the cup while the mold charge is being formed, thus bringing about an even distribution ofhea't in the mold charge so that when it is dropped into the mold no portions of the charge will have been subjected to any severe chilling.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: l

1. An apparatus for feeding glass comprising a forehearth having a downwardlyextending nipple providing an outlet, a cup shaped member into which the nipple extends, and means for causing relative reciprocating movement to take place between the cup shaped member and the nipple, the arrangement being such as to cause glass to be extruded during a stroke in one direction and a tendency for extruded glass to be caused to in-l trude into the cup shaped member during a stroke in the opposite direction.

2. An apparatus for feeding glass comprising a forehearth having a downwardly extending nipple providing an outlet, a cup shaped member into which the nipple extends, means for causing relative reciprocating movement to take place between the cup shaped member and the nipple. the arrangement being such as to cause glass to be extruded during a stroke in one direction and a tendency for extruded glass to be caused to intrude into the cup shaped member during a stroke in the opposite direction, and means for ciprocating the cup shaped member toward and away from the nipple.

4. An apparatus for feeding glass comprising a forehearth having a downwardly extending nipple providing an outlet, a cup shaped member having an outlet therein and into which the lower end of the nipple extends, means for reciprocating the cup shaped member toward and away from the nipple, and means for rotating the cup shaped member during its reciprocation.

5. An apparatus for feeding glass comprising a forehearth having a downwardly extending nipple providing van outlet, a cup shaped member having an outlet therein and into which the lower end 'of the nipple extends, means for recip' rocating theA cup shaped member toward and away from the nipple, and means for varying the length of stroke of the cup shaped member.

6. An apparatus for feeding glass comprising a forehearth having a downwardly extending nipple providing an outlet, a cup shaped member having an outlet therein and into which the lower end of the nipple extends, and means for reciprocating the cup shaped member toward and away from the nipple, said nipple having a' lateral outlet and an imperforate bottom aiord` ing a resistance to glass in the cup shaped member and tending to extrude it therefrom on the upstroke of the cup shaped member.

7. An apparatus for feeding glass comprising a forehearth having a downwardly extending nipple providing an outlet, a cup shaped member having an outlet therein and into which the lower end of the nipple extends, means for reciprocating the cup shaped member toward and away from the nipple,'and means for rotating the cup shaped member during its reciprocation, said nipple having a lateral outlet and an imperforate bottom affording a resistance to glass inthe cup shaped member and tending to extrude it therefrom on the upstroke of the cup shaped member. K

8. An apparatus for feeding glass comprising a forehearth having a downwardly extending nipple providing an outlet, a cup shaped member having an outlet therein and into` which the lower end of the nipple extends, and means for reciprocating the cup shaped member toward and away from the nipple, said nipple having a centraloutlet surrounded by iiat surfaces affording a resistance to glass in the cup shaped member and tending to extrude it therefrom on the upstroke of the cup shaped member.

9. An apparatus for feeding glass comprising a forehearth having a downwardly extending nipple providing an outlet, a cup-shaped member having an outlet therein and into which the lower end of the nipple extends, and means for causing relative reciprocating movement to take place between the cup-shaped member and the nipple so as to cause the cup-shaped member and the nipple to move toward and away from each other. i

RAY A. CHILCOTE. 

